Help, trying to change back tail light......

[ncsuengin9]

I need some help.
I am attempting to change out the back tail light on my 2003 LS, and what should be at the most a 15-20 min like everything I try to do on this car has turned into a 2 hour ordeal because the bolt that you have to reach through the hole in the sheet metal is on a stud that is either stripped/cross threaded/damage.
I was able to get the bolt loose but now it just sits there and spins on the stud...........
Anyone out there have any ideas????????

 

[Andrizzle]

Can you pull it out enough to cut it? Like from the outside?

Honestly the tail lights stay in place with just two of the bolts on, so having one off/snapped wouldn't completely trash the light assembly.

 

[ncsuengin9]

I wish I could, but its behind the sheet metal plate so there is virtually no access to the bolt other then through the hole in sheet metal.......

 

[Andrizzle]

Well if you can fit some pliers in there, try snapping it off. If not just pry the taillight out and snap the stud out of the plastic housing in the light.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Get something behind it to pry with. Pry gently as you turn the nut. Epoxy the stud back in when through.

 

[ncsuengin9]

Holy Crap that sucked!!!!!!!! but I finally got the bolt of and exchanged out my tail lights
Some dumb!%#$ decided to put grease all up and down the stud, so a mixture of degrading the threards, and the grease congelling on the threads didnt allow the bolt to run up the stud.
I wound up getting it loose and pried a screwdriver behind it while turning on the ratchet and it finally caught.

 

[mlara1129]

i may have a spare(fvcked up) tail light with good studs, that you can have. Maybe theres a way to exchange the studs? Idk just trying to help.

 

[ncsuengin9]

Thanks but should be ok now. I just reattached the taillight with the two good bolts, and not messing the bad stud.